Immortal Awakening: Immortal Heart (16 page)

Rowan shook her head. “I don’t understand.”

“Me either,” Izzy admitted, her gaze shifting to the warrior watching them. “Are you Tyr?”

The man nodded. “That I am.”

“And you would be the Isabelle who stole my boy’s heart.” He tipped his head in Rowan’s direction. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

Izzy smiled. “Bain and Holly talk about you all the time. I see it in his eyes that he envies her for the time she got to spend with you.”

Tyr smiled. “In the Fates’ temple.”

Izzy nodded and stuck out her hand. “I know it’s not Fae tradition, but it’s the best way I know to introduce myself.”

Tyr smiled at her. Taking her hand, he pulled her into a tight embrace. “How’s my boy?”

She smiled. “He’s Bain. He’s amazing and strong.”

Tyr let her go and stepped back to look down at her. “And you love him.”

“More than words could ever describe.”

“Then we better get you to Jelena so you can get back to him.”

“
Where is she?”
Bain roared as he threw a chair across the room. The thick, polished wood shattered into tiny pieces when it connected with the unforgiving stone wall.

“Calm down, brother,” Cree ordered. “We’ll find her.”

“It’s already been two days.” Bain couldn’t breathe. He felt the pressure of her loss weighing down on his very soul.

Kale grabbed Bain by the shoulders. “Go, take a break.”

“She’s gone, Kale,” Bain said softly, his heart breaking as he uttered the words.

“But not for good.” Kale cupped the back of Bain’s neck and pressed their foreheads together. “We will do everything we can. I promise. Lothar and Holly are out there looking for her as we speak. Now go get some sleep.”

Bain pulled back and nodded. Without another word, he turned and left.

Samira watched him go. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and looked up at Makyle. “Are you okay?”

Makyle nodded. “I believe she’ll be back soon and with an interesting story to tell.”

Samira cocked a brow. “What aren’t you saying?”

Makyle smiled and slung his arm over her shoulder. “I’ve already said it. This has the Fates written all over it.”

Samira nodded and looked back to Kale and Cree. “What can we do?”

Cree shook his head and smiled. “I think everything just got settled.”

Kale arched a brow. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing we need to worry about.”

****

Bain kicked off his boots and flopped down on his bed. He sat with his elbows on his knees and his forehead resting on his fisted knuckles. “Where are you
?
” he whispered in the dark.

“
I’m right here. I’m so sorry I left
,” Izzy whispered back.

Bain’s head shot up to see Izzy standing before him. He didn’t say a word as his gaze raked over her.

“I’m so sorry, Bain.” She shook her head as fear settled in her. There was something hard in his gorgeous, unique eyes.

Would he forgive her? Would he understand what she’d had to do?

He stood and continued to stare at her. Izzy pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Please say something,” she begged softly.

Bain’s head tilted as he looked down at her beautiful face. He wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her. Pressing her against the wall, he cupped her face. Izzy placed her hands over his and smiled softly at him. “Say something,” she pleaded again.

“Sweetheart,” he murmured the term of endearment with need, before lowering his mouth to hers. Kissing her slowly at first before dipping his tongue into her mouth and deepening the kiss.

Izzy felt her heart fill and her soul lighten.

Bain pulled back and dropped his forehead to hers. Izzy sighed.

“Where have you been for the past two days?” he finally asked.

Izzy pulled back even further. “Two days?”

Bain nodded. “Yes, two days, Izzy. I’ve been out of my mind for two days now.”

She shook her head, feeling like a total jerk. “I didn’t know it was that long—it was only a few hours on my end. I saw Rowan, and I met your father.”

Bain smiled. “Let me guess, he loved you instantly?”

She laughed. “He was mostly worried about getting me back to his boy… he wanted me to make sure and tell you that he is so very proud of you, and he made me promise to keep you in check.”

Bain chuckled. “That sounds about right.”

“God, he loves you, Bain.”

He nodded. “That was one thing I never doubted from my father. So, why were you there?”

“Lechesis took me and told me to give the vial of blood Makyle brought back from the Underworld to Jelena.”

Bain’s brow furrowed. “What for?”

Izzy shook her head. “I don’t know, but the sisters sure seemed to know instantly what it was for.”

Bain frowned.

“Let’s not worry about it. What did I miss? What happened with Makyle’s brothers?”

Bain smiled. “He pretty much told them to fuck off.” Izzy arched a brow. “Yeah, that was my response, too. He told them that he was done living as they do. He abdicated.”

With wide eyes, she asked, “What does that mean?”

“I think it means we now have a demi-god as a warrior for the Light Fae.”

“So he and Samira are still here, and they’re safe?”

“Yes, sweetheart. Do you want to go see them?”

She shook her head. All she wanted was him. She wanted to run her fingers over his flesh, she wanted to feel him hard against her. “No, I want to stay with you.”

Bain grinned, tossing her over his shoulder. He slapped his palm down gently on her ass. She yelped, causing him to smile even wider. He made his way to the door and threw it open.

“What are you doing?” she questioned.

“Taking care of something first. Kale!” he hollered down the hall.

Izzy shook her head and laughed.

“
What
?” Kale yelled back with panic. Leaping from the main floor to the top of the stairs, he smiled as Bain turned his back to him and Izzy lifted her head and waved.

“I’m home.”

Kale let out a deep breath of relief and chuckled. “Glad to see. I’ll let the others know and tell them to leave the two of you alone for the night.”

“Thanks, Kale.”

Kale shook his head. “Welcome home. You scared the shit out of us, Iz… You'll have lots of explaining to do later.”

Izzy nodded. “I’m sorry. You know I love ya’.”

“We love you, too,” Kale said as he turned and Bain shut the door, effectively ending the conversation.

Marie handed Makiah over to Makyle. The bright sun shone off his dark hair and had his little, mismatched eyes squinting.

“He needs sunglasses,” Marie said, as she smiled and slid a small hat on his head, the brim blocking the bright rays. “But this is all I have, little man.”

Makyle smiled down at the bouncing baby as he grasped at the dark hair that now covered Makyle’s chin.

Marie laughed. “He’s a hair puller.”

“And a strong one.” Makyle agreed as he pried his stubble from Makiah’s little fingers. “He’s gotten big.”

Marie nodded. “He does seem to be growing rather quickly. He’s going to be super smart, too. I can already tell. Also, I might be crazy, but I swear I saw him use magic once. ”

“Really?” Makyle’s brows drew together briefly before his face stretched in a proud smile.

“I think he’s gonna be like his father.”

“You saw him use telekinesis?”

She nodded. “I think so. I wasn’t fast enough responding to his wail of irritation at dropping his favorite monkey toy. When I turned around, it was in his grip once again”

“You’re an amazing mother to him. I do believe he may lack patience just like his uncle.” He grinned as he looked from Makiah to Marie

She shrugged. “He deserves a mom. But for what it’s worth, he will know all about your sister and how hard she fought to be with him.”

Makyle nodded. “Thank you.”

Marie stood. “There is no thanks needed—I love him and his father. I’m just grateful that I get to be a part of his life and this world,” she said, then headed back towards the castle.

“You belong here, just like Izzy does,” he called after her.

Marie didn’t say anything else as she set out to find Uriah.

Makyle sat with Makiah, studying every inch of the child’s face. Samira stood at the large window of the upstairs study, watching Makyle play with the beautiful baby.

“It’s quite the sight, isn’t it?” Kat whispered from behind her.

Samira’s hand flew to her chest. She blew out a startled breath as she nodded and turned to look at Kat. “Glad to be home?”

“You have no idea. So, are you thinking about what it would be like to hold your own bouncing little one?”

Samira shrugged. “Is that what you think about when Kale holds him?”

She almost snorted. No—she thought about how they needed to not have children. “Honestly, no… I imagine how not-ready we are.”

Samira smiled softly. “Is that what’s wrong?”

Kat chewed on her lower lip. “I used to be so good at putting on a strong face and being the tough girl who could take care of herself. I’m not that good anymore.”

Samira tilted her head. “Are you pregnant, Kat?”

She pulled a small, black and white picture from her pocket and handed it over.

Samira’s eyes widened, and her mouth fell open. “No shit.”

Kat nodded. “One day. I missed that fucking pill
one day
. Things get crazy around here. Hell, half the time I forget to eat.”

Samira grinned and handed back the sonogram picture with the three little blobs floating around in static. “That is not an option, now. Speaking of which, we’re all supposed to be having breakfast together.”

Kat let out a shaky breath. “I haven’t told Kale yet.”

“Your secret is safe with me, but no matter how perfect your body is,
succubus
, you won’t be able to hide them for long.”

“Don’t I know it.”

Samira and Kat met up with Makyle, Marie, Uriah, and Makiah on their way to the large dining room. Darnel was already serving up the food, and the whole family was gathered around the table.

“Sorry we’re late, Makiah needed some Vitamin D,” Marie said as she placed him in his highchair. Kyra smiled and scooted her chair closer to him. Makiah screamed playfully as she tickled him. He latched on to her fingers and began shaking them up and down.

“I swear, she is the only one who can make him laugh like that,” Marie said as she took a seat next to Kyra.

“That’s because she loves her little cousin,” Bain said, pouring a glass of juice for her.

Kyra laughed. “
Kiah
is not my cousin. We’re gonna be married when we grow up.”

Bain’s face drained of color as the rest of the table broke out in laughter.

“Aww, and a beautiful wedding it will be,” Cree said before taking a bite of his food, smiling as he chewed.

“Yeah, it will be, because I am
sooo
planning that wedding,” Izzy said as she squeezed Bain’s arm and grinned wildly.

Bain shook his head. “Is there any vodka to go with my O.J.? I think I need a drink.”

Swallowing his food, Kale helpfully offered, “I have some Patrón you are welcome to.”

“Of course you do, Kale,” Holly said, shaking her head.

“The Patrón is a given with our little brother,” Lothar added, earning him a solid chin-dip from Uriah.

The banter continued, and Makyle leaned in close to Samira. “Are you sure this is the life you want?”

Her gaze drifted over the faces around her. She took in the smiles and gestures of love and listened to the banter and the playful spirits of the family she felt fully accepted into. “Absolutely,” she said as she lifted a bite of banana pancake to her mouth.

Jelena sat with her legs crossed and her foot bouncing as she turned the vial in her fingers. Meriah and Acacia watched her.

“What are you going to do?” Acacia finally asked.

Jelena didn’t lift her gaze—it remained glued to the thick, red liquid, swaying with each flip of the bottle. “I know what I am supposed to do,” she said flatly.

“We all know what you’re supposed to do… I think Lechesis’ message was pretty clear. And still, we have to ask, what are you
going
to do?” Meriah questioned.

Jelena sighed and finally lifted her gaze. “It should be rather clear what I am going to do. Go get her.”